Staple forming and driving machine.



7/ L. B. GIRARD.

, STAPLE FORMING AND DRIVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I8, 1915.

1 1 84,44; 1 Patented May 23, 1916. F

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Louis Giz'az-d' m/ i p/w zl 9 THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHING'LUN, u. C.

I.. BIGIRARDJ STAPLE FODMING AND DRIVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, I915.

TSSHEET 3.

f2? verziar: Loans 5. G'z'rard mpwfi Patented May 23, 1916.

:n-IE COLUMBIA Purgomz'KPn co, WASHINGTON, b. c.

LOUIS B. GIRARD, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE GIRARD MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, GALIFORNIA, A CORPORATIGN 0F GALI- FORNIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1216.

Original application filed February 3, 1914, Serial No. 816,151. Divided and this application filed May 18,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIs B. GIRARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Staple Forming and Driving Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for forming staples from sheet metal, and the main object of the invention is to provide a machine which will form pointed staples without any waste of stock due to the pointing.

A further object of the invention is to provide convenient and effective means for producing staples of diiferent length from stock of a given width.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stapling machine which is capable of rapid operation.

This application is a division of my application Ser. No. 816,151, filed Feb. 3, 1911.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment ofthe invention, and referring thereto:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the dies and the operating parts therefor, showing the same in partially operated position. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the machine. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the strip feeding mechanism. Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the dies on line ac -w in Fig. 4:, showing the position in which the staple has been cut and bent at its end portions only. Fig. 8 is a section on line 00 a"' in Fig. 7. Figs. 9 and 10 are views similar to Figs. 7 and 8 respectively, showing the position in which the staple has been severed and driven. Figs. 11 and 12 are Views similar to Figs. 7 and 8 respectively, showing the position in which the staple points have been clenched. Fig. 13 is a perspective of the upper die body. Fig. 14 is a perspective of the base plate for said die body. Fig. 15 is a perspective of the form over which the staple is bent. Fig. 16 is a plan View of the work holder. Fig. 17 is a vertical section thereof on line 00 -w in Fig. 16. Fig. 18 is a plan View of the base plate for the upper Serial No. 28,835.

die. Figs. 19 and 20 are plan views of clifferent length staples made from the same strip. Fig. 21 is a cross section of a form of stock strip for heavy staples. Fig. 22 is a perspective view of the staple.

The machine comprises a frame formed as a base 1, column 2 on said base, and brackets 3, 4- and 5 mounted on said column, said base, and column being preferably hollow. An operating pedal lever 6 extends through a slot 6 in base 1 and is pivotally connected at its inner end to a rod 7 extending vertically within the column and connected at its upper end to an upper die operating lever 12. A bracket 8 extends from rod 7 through a slot 2 in column 2 and is connected to the upper end of a tension spring 9, whose lower end is connected to an arm 10 ad justably mounted on a rod 11 whose upper end is connected to a lower die operating lever 13, the lower end of said rod 11 being connected by a pivot pin 14 to pedal lever 6, so that the spring 9 tends to hold said rod 11 and pedal lever 6 up and to hold rod 7 down. Said pivot pin 14 works in slots 11 in cheeks 1 at each side of slot 6 in base 1. A screw 15 on the base 1 serves as an adjustable stop for the pedal lever to limit the upward movement thereof, under the action of spring 9.

Lever 13 pivotally connected to the upper end of rod 11 is mounted at 16 on bracket 3 extending from the column 2, the outer end of said lever being pivoted to one end of a pair of toggle links 18, the upper endof said toggle links being pivotally connected to a slide 20, serving as a work support, said slide 20 being vertically slidable in a guideway 21 formed on the bracket 3. Said lever 13 is also pivotally connected to a link 23 which is pivotally connected at its upper end to a die 24 slidably mounted in a way or channel 2 1 in said slide 20. The slide 20 serves as a work holder or presser means for pressing and holding the paper, board or work against an upper die plate 78 carried by the bracket 4:, and the die 2ft serves as a means for clenching the staples on the work.

In the upper die h0lder'25 are mounted the staple cutting and forming dies, com

prising a die body 27, vertically slidable in the part 2-5, and carrying two die prongs 28, serving to sever and bend the points of the staple, and a central die 29 vertically slidable on the die body 27 and adapted to sever the central portion of the staple from the stock strip and to drive the staple down into the work. The die holder 25 is formed with a vertical way 27 in which the die body 27 slides, and a side plate 26 removably secured to said holder and forming one side of said way. The die body 27 is formed with a vertical channel 22 in which the severing and driving die 29 slides. The severing and driving die 29 is operated directly from the operating lever 12 through a link 30 pivotally connected to said die and said lever. The point severing and bending die body 27 is connected to said 7 operating lever 12 indirectly through a system of levers and links which provide for arrest of the motion of said die body before the movement of the central die 29 is completed. For this purpose the die body 27 is connected by a link 31 to a lever 32- pivotally supported at 33 on the bracket 4 and connected by a link 34 to one arm of a bell crank lever 35 pivoted at 36 on bracket 4, the other arm of said bell crank being connected by a link 37 to the operating lever 12. The positions of the pivotal connec tions of the aforesaid parts are such that in the downward movement of the front end of the lever 12, the bell crank 35 turns to a position in which its arm connected to the link 34 passes to the dead center position with respect to the fixed pivot 36 of the bell crank and the pivotal connections 34 and 32 of link 34 with said bell crank and with lever 32, so that further downward movement of the operating lever 12 will have no further depressing action on the die body 27. Also pivoted on the pivot pin 36 for the bell crank 35 is a trip lever 39 having an arm 40 in the path of movement of the upper end of link 34, said lever 39 extending beneath a collar 42 on a rod 41 passing through a perforation 41 in said lever. A spring 43 resting on said collar engages at its upper end with a support 44. Rod 41 has a collar 42 below lever 39. Said rod 41 is connected at its lower end to one arm of a bell crank 45 whose other arm is connected by a link 46 to the knuckle joint or pivot 47 of the toggle links 18 aforesaid, so that upward movement of said rod 41 causes the link 46 to be drawn to position to break or bend said toggle from its straight or locked position.

This machine is adapted to form the staples from a continuous strip of metal or other suitable material, indicated at 48, said strip being, for example, wound on a drum or reel 49 rotatably supported on a bracket 50 which is pivotally mounted at 50 on the upper bracket 5. A spring 51 on said bracket engages said reel to retard the motion of the drum. The hub 52 of the bracket 50 which turns on the pivot pin 50 may be provided with a scale 53 reading on mark or index 54 on a supporting collar 55 carried by the bracket 5, at the lower end of said pivot pin, so as to enable accurate adjustment of the arm 50 to vary the angle of feed of the stock strip 48 in order tovary the length of the points of the staple in the manner hereinafter set forth. strip passes through a guide 57 on an arm 58 depending from bracket 50 and is fed intermittently by any suitable means, for example, by a feed lever 60 pivoted at 61 on the bracket 50 and connected to said bracket by a spring 62 so as to tend to draw the lower end of said lever to position to advance the strip.

The stock strip 48 passes over a seat or shoulder 63 on the lower end of the feed lever 60, and said lever is provided with a spring operated grip pawl 64 pivoted thereto and engaging at its lower end with the stock strip to grip the strip in the forward movement of the lever, but to release itself therefrom in the rearward movement, said pawl extending obliquely down, and forward {P01111138 pivot point to secure this gripping and releasing action. The lever 60 is formed as a bell crank, one arm of the same carrying the pawl 64 and the other arm carrying a collar 66 engaged by a head 67 on a link 68 connected to the operating lever 12 so that at each downward movement .of the front end of said lever 12," the ment, and in the ensuing upward movement of the lever 12, the spring 62 returns the lever 60 to normal position, advancing the pawl 64, said pawl in its forward movement gripping the stock strip and feeding it forward. In order to hold the stock strip in position to which it is fed in this manner, a spring operated retaining pawl 70 is pivotally mounted on the depending arm 58 of bracket 50, and is adapted to grip the stock strip between the lower end of said pawl and a supporting shoulder or seat 72 on the bracket arm 58.

The stock strip extends obliquely forward from the guide 57 and retaining pawl 70 through a slot 74 at the side of the upper die holder 25, said slot extending obliquely inward and terminating at its forward end at the inner face 75 of the front wall of a slot 79, said wall serving as an abutment or stop for the stock strip. The slot 74 for receiving the stock strip is formed in a base plate 78 which is removably secured to the upper die holder 25 and which is provided with a vertical slot 79 adjacent to the front wall of guideway 27 and in line with the several die portions 28 and 29, forming a way through which said die portions operate and This stock.

through which the staple is driven. Said base plate 78 is provided with a removable cutting die plate 71 adjacent to the slot 79, and with a guide pin 78 which projects upwardly therefrom in position to be engaged bythe outer edge of the strip 18, that is to say, the edge which faces away from the forming and severing means, in such manner as to serve as a side abutment for the stock strip 48, so as to always centralize the stock strip, withreference to the slot 79, in all angular positions of said strip. A clamp means 76 is provided for clamping the bracket for the stock strip reel 19 in any 5' required angular position.

A temporary retainer for the staple in the process of formation is provided, consisting of a block 80 slidably mounted in a horizontal guideway 81 in the front plate 75, and provided at its inner edge with a projection 82 beveled as shown at 83 at its upper end, and provided below such bevel with a horizontal groove slit 84 adapted to receive the forward end of the stock strip. The portion of said projection beneath said groove serves as a form or anvil over which the staple is bent. A spring 85 acts on said block to force the same-inwardly, but allows the block to be pushed aside by downward movement of the central severing and driving die 29. A strip per rod 86 extends directly at the rear of the projection 82 and in alinement with a slot 87 in the bottom of die body 27, said rod 86 being mounted in die holder 25.

The operation is as follows: In the normal position of the parts, shown in Fig. 1, the pedal lever 6 is raised by operation of spring 9 which draws the pivot pin 14: upwardly and draws the rod 7 downwardly so as to force downwardly the inner end of said lever 6 and raise the outer end, said lever 6 then resting against stop screw 15. The rod 11 being raised at this time by its connection to the pedal lever, it operates through the lower die operating lever 13 to hold the work holder or slide 20 and the die 24 there on in depressed position, away from the upper die holder so as to permit the insertion of the work between the upper die holder and the work holder. The rod 7 being depressed in this normal position, it holds the lever 12 in position to raise the upper dies.

The stock strip 48 extends from the reel through the slot 7 4 in the side of the upper die holder and rests against the stop face 75 in the die holder, the forward edge of this stock strip extending into the edge of the notch or slit 84 in the retainer 80, the front edge of this stock strip having been cut obliquely by previous operation so as to lie flat against said face 75 notwithstanding the oblique position of the stock strip. The bracket or arm 50 for supporting the stock strip reel is assumed to have been moved to the proper angular position to give the requisite length to the points of the staple, as will hereinafter be more fully explained, and said strip rests at one side against the guide pin 7 3-which centralizes it with respect to the dies. The

holder 20 until it engages the work 89 and clamps it firmly against the upper die holder 25. This motion is transmitted to the slide 20 through the toggle links 18, which at this time are in straightened or alined position, so as to transmit the upward pressure. The die 24 is also moved upward in this operation by link 23, but remains at a certain distance below the top of the work holder 20, so as to enable passage of the staple points into the guideway 24 for said die. This preliminary movement, bringing the workholder to hold the work in position, is with out effect on the upper die devices but when it is arrested by engagement of the work or article 89 on the work holder with the upper die holder 25, the downward movement of pivot pin 14 is thereby arrested, and con tinued depression of the pedal lever 6 causes said lever to turn on the pivot pin 1:2 as fulcrum, raising the rod 7 and operating the upper die operating lever 12, so as to force down the outer or forward end of said lever. The position of the upper die parts at this time is such that the lower end of the central severing and driving die 29 is somewhat above the lower ends of the point cutting and bending dies 28. In the downward movement of the outer end of lever 12, the central die 29 is forced downward directly by operation of the link 30 and the dies 1 28 are forced downward through the action of the link 37 turning the bell crank 35 so as to force downwardly the link '34, the lever 32 connected to said link, the link 31 connected to said lever, and the die body 27 thickness of the stock. Thus, when the dies 28 are forced down in this manner at each side of the projection 82, they cut the strip at each side of the center to form the points 88 and bend the cut portions down at each side of the retaining projection or form 82,

V as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, these figures showing the position occupied by the parts when the point forming dies 28 have nearly completed their operation, and the central die has not yet reached the stock strip. At this time the lower arm of the bell crank reaches the dead center position with respect to the pivots 36, 31 and 32, so that in the further downward movement of the lever 12, the die body 27 and the dies 28 carried thereby will not be further depressed, but the central die 29, being directly connected to the lever 12 through the link 30, will continue to move downwardly to position shown in Figs. 9 and 10, so as to Strike the staple and sever it along the line connecting the lines of severance by said dies 28, so as to completely sever the staple from the stock strip. In the severin operations above described the edge of the die plate 78 at the rear of the slot 7 9 serves as a lower cutting edge. The further movement of the central die operates to drive the staple so severed, downwardly so as to cause its points 88 to penetrate and pass through the work 89. The lower channel or guideway 24: for the lower die 24 .is made slightly narrower than the space between the upper dies 28 and therefore slightly narrower than the outside dimensions of the staple which is determined by such width between such distance between the upper dies, so that as the staple is driven through the work and its points pass into the channel or guideway 21, they are bent inward as shown in Fig. 10, this being necessary in order to insure proper operation of the clenching die. The upper end of thechannel 2 1 is also preferably formed with bevels 20 to facilitate the bending of the points to proper position. At or about the time that this driving operation is completed, the link 34 engages the arm 10 of lever 39 in such manner as to raise the rod 41 and turn the bell crank 41-5 so as to pull the link -16 over and bend or break the toggle 18. It will be understood that during the operation above described, the pressure of the pedal 6 has been continually exerted through the lever 13 on the toggle 18 and the work holder 20, and when the toggle is broken or bent in this manner, it no longer sustains this pressure and the lever 13 thereupon continues to move under action of pedal 6 and rod 11, so as to drive the die 24: upward against the points 88 of the staple and clcnch them on the work, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. Member 20 is yieldingly held against the work at this time by spring 4:3, acting on toggle 18.

As the stock strip 18 is fed in a direction oblique to the stop face and the cutting edge of the die member 71, it follows that the ends of the severed portion of the strip forming the blank for the staple are inclined or oblique with relation to the length of the strip, as shown in Figs. 19 and 20, so as to form points which will penetrate the paper, wood or other material which is 'being stapled. The length of the staple between the prongs thereof is determined by the width of the forming projection '84 and the length of the prongs is determined by the excess of length of the blank cutfrom the stock strip over the width of this forming projection. The length of the blank so cut may be varied so as to provide for longer 7 prongs or pointed ends of the staple in stapling heavier material, by adjusting the angular position of the stock strip. For this purpose the clamping means 7 6 is loosened and the bracket 50 carrying the strip reel 49 is swung to position to feed the strip 48 at the obliquity with reference to the stop face 75, required to give the increased length to the staple prongs. Thus as indicated. in

Fig. 18, by shifting the stock strip from the angle at which the strip is fed. This position may be found by placing the blank strip in central position, first perpendicular to the front face of the die, and then in inmost oblique position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 18, the pin 73 being placed so'that it will lie in contact with one side of the strip in each of these positions. The slot 79 and prong severing dies 28 working therein re sufiiciently wide to cut the prongs in any position to which the stock strip may be adjusted. In case unusually heavy material is used for the stock strip, for example, for stapling heavy board, I prefer to bevel the edges of the stock strip, as indicated at 18 in Fig. 21.

What I claim is:

' 1. In a staple forming machine, the combination with forming and severing means, of a strip feeding means adapted to feed a strip toward said forming and severing means, said strip feeding means being adjustably mounted to vary the angle at which the strip is fed to the forming and severing means, and a centering bearing means, mounted infi xed position and arranged to be engaged by the outer edge of the strip, to center the strip with respect to the forming and severing means, in different angular positions of the strip.

'- 2. In a staple forming machine, the combination of strip feeding means adjustably mounted to feed the strip at flifi'erent angles, a female die provlded with a slot of suilicient length to extend under the whole width of the strip in all angular positions thereof, a form member movably mounted in said female die and adapted to extend under the central portion of said strip, a male die provided with die portions adapted to enter said slot at each side of said form member, and a centering member adapted to engage one edge of the strip to center the strip with respect to the dies.

3. In a stapling machine, the combination with forming and severing means, of a strip feeding means mounted to feed a stock strip toward said forming and severing means in a direction which is oblique to the cutting line of said forming and severing means, whereby the ends of the severed portion of the strip form points, said severing and forming means comprising dies for making cuts in the strip at each side thereof, leaving prong portions attached to the strip between the cuts, and also comprising a severing die for cutting said portion between the aforesaid cuts, and means for varying the angle of feed of the strip feeding means to vary the length of the points on the staple.

4. In a stapling machine, the combination of strip feeding means, stop means against which the strip is fed, a die member formed with a slot adjacent the said stop means, an anvil member movably mounted in said die member and having a projection extending into said slot to serve as an anvil over which the staple is bent, said anvil being of less width than the strip, a movable die member provided with die portions movable into said slot at each side of said projection to sever side portions of the strip and bend the same down at the sides of said projection, severing means movably mounted over said anvil, and means for moving said severing means, after said side portions are bent down, to sever the staple.

5. In a staple forming machine, the combination with forming and severing means, of a strip feeding means adapted to feed a stock strip toward said forming and severing means in a direction which is oblique to the cutting line of said forming and severing means, the ends of the severed portion of the strip forming points, said forming and severing means comprising dies for making cuts in the strip at each side thereof, leaving prong portions attached to the strip between the cuts, and also comprising a severing die for cutting the portion be tween the aforesaid cuts.

6. In a staple forming machine, the combination with forming and severing means,

of a strip feeding means adapted to feed a strip obliquely toward said forming and severing means, and a centering bearing mounted in fixed position and arranged to be engaged by the edge of said strip which faces away from the forming and severing means, to center the strip with respect to the forming and severing means.

7. In a stapling machine, the combination of strip feeding means, stop means for limiting the forward movement of said strip, die means formed with a slot adjacent to said stop means, a form member movable into and out of said slot, movable die means movable into said slot at each side of said form member to sever the side portions of the strip and bend the same over said form member, means for withdrawing said form member from the slot on completion of the movement of said movable die means, and a severing and driving die member movable into said slot on completion of the movement of the aforesaid movable die means to sever the staple and drive it through said slot.

8. In a stapling machine, the combination of strip feeding means, stop means for limiting the forward movement of the strip, a die member formed with a slot adjacent to said stop means, a form member having a. projection extending in said slot, said form member being movably mounted to withdraw said projection from the slot, and having a strip receiving groove and a bevel portion above said groove, movable die means comprising portions movable into said slot at each side of said projection to sever the side portions of the strip to form the staple points and to bend said points down at each side of said projection, and a severing and driving member mounted to,

move into said slot to sever the staple and drive it through said slot, said severing and driving die being adapted to engage the aforesaid bevel portion on said form member to withdraw the form from the slot to permit passage of the staple.

9. In a stapling machine, the combination with a die member having a slot, die means for forming the staple and driving it through said slot, a work holder movably mounted adjacent to said die member to clamp the work between said work holder into clamping position, operating means for the aforesaid movable die means and comprising a lever fulcrumed on the operating means for the work holder, whereby on completion of the movement of the work holder, said fulcrum is supported against further movement and serves as a fixed fulcrum for said operating lever for operation of the movable die means, and a spring connecting said operating means for the work holder with the operating means for the movable die means to return both of them to normal position.

10. In a stapling machine, the combination of a die member having a die slot, movable die means for severing, forming and driving a staple through said slot, a work holder movably mounted adjacent said die member to clamp the Work against said die member, a clenching die movably mounted in said Work holder, and means for driving said die against the staple points to clench the same on the Work, means controlled by the movement of the Work holder to cause operation of the first named movable die means when the movement of the Work holder is completed, and means controlled by the movement of the first named movable die means to cause operation of said clenching die on substantial completion of the movement of said first named movable die means.

11. In a stapling machine, the combination of a die member having a die slot, movable die means mounted to move in said slot to sever, form and drive a staple through the slot, a Work holder mounted to move adjacent said die member to clamp the Work against said die member, a'toggle connected to said Work holder, an operating lever connected to said toggle means for normally holding said toggle in straight position whereby movement of said lever is imparted to said Work holder, means controlled by movement of the aforesaid movable die means to move said toggle controlling means to bend the toggle on completion of the operation of said die means, and a die movably mounted in said Work holder and connected to the operating lever and the Work holder, so as to move upwardly to clench the points of the staple on the Work When the said toggle is bent. V

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Los Angeles, California, this 12th day of May, 1915.

LOUIS B; GIRARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C." 

